[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 192 (Tuesday, November 10, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6649-S6650]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION

  Mr. RISCH. Madam President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control 
Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain 
proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, 
the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be 
reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the 
notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the 
Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
  In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant 
information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to 
have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. 
If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is 
available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations 
Committee, room SD-423.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:


[[Page S6650]]


                                                  Defense Security


                                           Cooperation Agency,

                                                    Arlington, VA.
     Hon. James E. Risch,
     Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations,
     U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Pursuant to the reporting requirements 
     of Section 36(b)(5)(C) of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), 
     as amended, we are forwarding Transmittal No. 21-0A. This 
     notification relates to enhancements or upgrades from the 
     level of sensitivity of technology or capability described in 
     the Section 36(b)(l) AECA certification 17-20 of March 7, 
     2018.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Heidi H. Grant,
                                                         Director.
       Enclosures.


                         Transmittal No. 21-0A

     Report of Enhancement or Upgrade of Sensitivity of Technology 
         or Capability (Sec. 36(b)(5)(C), AECA)
       (i) Purchaser: Government of the United Arab Emirates.
       (ii) Sec. 36(b)(l), AECA Transmittal No.: 17-20.
       Date: March 7, 2018.
       Military Department: Navy.
       (iii) Description: On March 7, 2018, Congress was notified 
     by Congressional certification transmittal number 17-20 of 
     the possible sale under Section 36(b)(l) of the Arms Export 
     Control Act of three hundred (300) AIM-9X-2 Sidewinder Block 
     II All-Up-Round Missiles; forty (40) AIM-9X-2 Sidewinder 
     Captive Air Training Missiles (CATMs); thirty (30) AIM-9X-2 
     Block II Tactical Guidance Units; fifteen (15) AIM-9X-2 CATM 
     Units; containers; spares; support equipment and missile 
     support; U.S. Government and contractor technical assistance 
     and other related logistics support; and other associated 
     support equipment and services. The estimated cost was $270.4 
     million. Major Defense Equipment (MDE) constituted $240 
     million of this total.
       This transmittal reports the addition of five hundred (500) 
     Sidewinder AIM 9X Block II+ (Plus) Tactical Missiles; forty 
     (40) Sidewinder AIM 9X Block II Captive Air Training Missiles 
     (CATMs); three (3) Sidewinder AIM 9X Block II Special Air 
     Training Missiles (NATMS); fifty (50) Sidewinder AIM 9X Block 
     II+ (Plus) Tactical Guidance Units; twenty-five (25) 
     Sidewinder AIM 9X Block II CATM Guidance Units; containers; 
     spares; support equipment and missile support; U.S. 
     Government and contractor technical assistance and other 
     related logistics support; and other associated support 
     equipment and services with a value of $490 million. The 
     total notified cost of MDE will increase to $730 million, and 
     the total notified case value will increase to $840.5 
     million.
       (iv) Significance: This notification is being provided to 
     report the inclusion of MDE items not previously notified. 
     This potential sale will improve the UAE's capability to meet 
     current and future threats and provide greater security for 
     its critical infrastructure. The addition of the Sidewinder 
     AIM 9X Block II+ (Plus) Tactical Missiles represents an 
     increase in capability over what was previously notified. The 
     UAE will use the enhanced capability to strengthen its 
     homeland defense.
       (v) Justification: This proposed sale of the Sidewinder AIM 
     9X Block II+ (Plus) Tactical Missile will support the foreign 
     policy and national security of the United States by helping 
     to improve the security of an important regional partner. The 
     UAE has been, and continues to be, a vital U.S. partner for 
     political stability and economic progress in the Middle East.
       (vi) Sensitivity of Technology: The Sidewinder AIM 9X Block 
     II+ (Plus) Tactical Missile represents a substantial increase 
     in missile acquisition and kinematics performance over the 
     AIM-9M and replaces the AIM 9X Block I Missile configuration. 
     The missile includes a high off-boresight seeker, enhanced 
     countermeasure rejection capability, low drag/high angle of 
     attack airframe and the ability to integrate the Helmet 
     Mounted Cueing System. The software algorithms are the most 
     sensitive portions of the Sidewinder AIM 9X Block II+ (Plus) 
     Tactical Missile. The software continues to be modified via a 
     Pre-Planned Product Improvement (P3I) program in order to 
     improve its counter-countermeasure capabilities. No software 
     source code or algorithms will be released. The highest level 
     of classification of information included in this potential 
     sale is SECRET.
       (vii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: November 9, 2020.

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